The Hub: Hub Happenings

Williston resident Peg Allen has been nominated for 2014 SBA Vermont Businesswoman of the year award. Allen owns Appearances Inc. in Winooski, which provides hair restoration products and services to people who have lost their hair due to medical treatments and/or illness. The winner will be announced later this year.

AllEarth Renewables wins awards for solar tracker system

The Williston-based manufacturer AllEarth Renewables was recently awarded two national top-product honors for its AllSun solar tracker design.

The pallet system for the AllSun Tracker won “Top Products of 2013” from Solar Power World and was also one of eight products to win “2013 Top Products” by Electrical Products and Solutions.

“We take a lot of pride in our company’s engineering and lean manufacturing. This product was designed with our growing network of nationwide solar installers in mind, allowing them to both get our tracker quickly and make their installation jobs easier,” said David Blittersdorf, president and CEO of AllEarth Renewables.

Rushford Family Chiropractic moves

South Burlington’s Rushford Family Chiropractic recently joined the Vermont Center for Integrative Therapy on San Remo Drive off Dorset Street. Williston residents Drs. Matt and Julieta Rushford have operated their family chiropractic practice in the Burlington area since 1994. They moved from their previous location just down the street.

“When we were invited to join the Center, it was an easy decision,” said Matt Rushford. “The integrative, holistic approach fits in perfectly with our own philosophy about healing and wellness. Teaming up with other great healers will empower all of us to help our patients with more services and facilities than ever before.”

Crawford named director

Vermont Works for Women has promoted Annie Crawford of Williston to its director of operations position. She will manage internal systems of accounting, technology and human resources for the nonprofit organization based in Winooski. Crawford previously served as director of development at VWW for two years, overseeing development and fundraising strategies that generated more than a half-million dollars per year.

Sherry Knudsen of Waterbury Center has joined Vermont Works for Women as its new director of development.

Vermont unemployment rate 4.2 percent in December

The Vermont Department of Labor announced recently that the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for December 2013 was 4.2 percent—a decrease of two-tenths of a percent from the November rate. The comparative national average was 6.7 percent, which was down three-tenths of a percent from November. December 2013 data represents the third consecutive reported monthly decrease to the statewide unemployment rate in Vermont. As of the prior month’s initial data, Vermont’s unemployment rate was tied for the fifth lowest in the country.

Best Western Plus Windjammer awarded

The Best Western Plus Windjammer Inn & Conference Center in South Burlington recently received the Best Western Director’s Award for outstanding quality standards. The Director’s Award recognizes Best Western hotels scoring in the top 20 percent of more than 2,100 North American properties in cleanliness and maintenance. Hotels must also meet Best Western’s requirements for design and high customer service scores to qualify for the distinction.

Williston-based LORD Corporation, MicroStrain Sensing Systems was recently named one of the 2014 Best Places to Work in Vermont for the second year in a row. The annual list of the Best Places to Work in Vermont was created by Vermont Business Magazine, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Department of Economic Development, Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

“We are honored to win the 2014 Best Places to Work in Vermont award,” said Andy Winzenz, director, global new ventures/business development & strategy. “It shows a strong commitment from our employees and their dedication to making our company successful.”

BCBS of Vermont achieves best-in-nation member service

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont has achieved the highest possible ranking in four service measures, establishing it as the number one BCBS plan in America in overall service to its members, BCBSVT President and CEO Don George announced earlier this month.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s number-one ranking was based on the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield system’s “Member Touchpoint Measures (MTM),” which Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans use to track the service they provide to their members and assure industry-leading service levels.

UVM fifth among Peace Corps volunteer-producing universities

The Peace Corps released the 2014 rankings of the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities across the country. The University of Vermont ranks fifth this year among medium-sized colleges and universities schools, with 29 undergraduate alumni currently volunteering worldwide.

UVM, which tied with Cornell University for the No. 5 spot in 2014, also ranked fifth nationally in 2013.

Since the first days of the Peace Corps, 839 UVM alumni have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers.

VSAC takes the gold for worksite wellness

Vermont Student Assistance Corp. is being honored with a gold level award for its employee wellness program from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and Vermont Department of Health.

Awards will be presented at the Worksite Wellness Conference on March 27. VSAC is one of 99 businesses that applied for the 2013 awards. This is the second year the company is being honored after receiving a bronze recognition last year.

The VSAC Wellness Program is administered by the human resources department, which plans wellness classes, such as fitness boot camp, Y-Fit, Zumba and yoga. Employees are offered flu shots annually, and given fun wellness ideas. The VSAC café also offers healthy meal choices.

The department also offers financial wellness classes, ergonomic evaluations, a dedicated private room for nursing mothers, fitness DVDs to take home and discount memberships to the YMCA.